(Iowa News Service story) – Livestock being raised with antibiotics is on the rise in Iowa, the nation’s number one hog producer. Doctors say the trend increases the risk of antibiotic-resistant infections for people who consume drug-treated meat.  Scientists have described drug-resistant infections as a growing crisis. The National Institutes of Health say the drugs are overused.  The Food Animal Concerns Trust’s Safe and Healthy Food Program Director and Senior Analyst, Steven Roach, said federal data show sales for antibiotics used in cattle and other animals is as high as it’s been in nearly a decade.

That’s especially important in Iowa. “In pigs in the U.S. – it’s up by 24%, and in cattle it’s up by 10%,” said Roach. “The chicken industry has continued to reduce their use, so it’s possible for the animal ag industry to make changes – but we haven’t seen that happen in cattle and pigs.” Data for 2024 show the use of antibiotics in chickens dropped by 50% over the last 7 years.

hog farming in iowa

In Iowa, livestock, including hogs, are mostly raised in large corporate confinements – which are known to pollute the air and nearby ground and surface water.  Confinement operators say they are trying to keep up with consumer demand for a high-quality, consistent source of meat. Roach said most of the meat available at grocery stores has been raised in confinements and treated with antibiotics.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates antibiotic-resistant infections kill at least 35,000 Americans every year. Roach said large-scale ag producers could help reduce that number by changing their philosophy of routinely using drugs in their operations. “We know we’re raising animals in unhealthy conditions,” said Roach, “so then we’re going to give them antibiotics independent of whether they’ve been diagnosed with an illness.”

Roach said meat in the grocery store that has been raised without antibiotics is identified as such on the packaging.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources announced Friday it has seen a “sharp jump” in cases of the highly pathogenic avian flu in wild birds this month after “nearly a year” with no detections of the virus.

The news release from DNR follows a week of outbreaks of the bird flu in commercial turkey and layer chicken flocks in Sioux, Palo Alto and Sac counties. According to a spokesperson with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the affected flocks that will have to be depopulated amount to about 76,000 turkeys and nearly 6 million egg-laying chickens.

Rachel Ruden, state wildlife veterinarian with the Iowa DNR, said at this time, a link between the wild bird detections and those in commercial flocks cannot be proven, though additional analysis of the genetic material could show a link.

The department saw an “uptick” in HPAI detections in mid-November from routine swabbing of healthy ducks collected by hunters, and just recently began to respond to calls of sick or dead geese. The cases have primarily been detected north of Interstate 80, according to the news release.

“We are encouraging the public to stay away from sick birds, especially waterfowl,” Ruden said in the release. Classic signs of the virus include birds that are twisting their heads and necks or swimming in tight circles, but Ruden said some are presenting differently now and act quiet or won’t fly away when approached.  Iowans who find five or more dead or sick birds within a week should notify the department or their local wildlife biologist. A list of contact information can be found on the department’s website.

Hunters are also advised to exercise caution around waterfowl, and prevent their dogs from interacting with unknown carcasses or eating raw poultry from harvested birds.

A hunting guide from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said hunters should not harvest birds that appear sick or are already dead and should properly clean bird dressing sites to avoid spreading the disease. Cooking poultry to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit can kill the virus.

The press release said those with backyard or commercial flocks should monitor poultry for signs of the disease and contact their veterinarian if they suspect an outbreak.

(Radio Iowa) – U-S Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says it appears Farm Bill negotiations have gotten more complex. House Speaker Mike Johnson says a majority of House Republicans oppose a Senate plan to take nearly 10 BILLION in unspent funds from the so-called Inflation Reduction Act and use it on conservation programs. “It would have actually provided additional resources for congress to increase the level of disaster assistance and emergency assistance that could have been provided to producers in Iowa and across the country,” Vilsack says. Vilsack says current budget rules would allow that 10 BILLION dollar transfer. “The sad reality is, by not protecting those resources, potentially congress could redirect them from farmers and ranches towards some other priority,” Vilsack says.

Funding for federal conservation assistance was increased dramatically by the Inflation Reduction Act. “This is a historic opportunity for us to significantly reduce the backlog of farmers who have been waiting for a while for resources to be able to do on their land what they know needs to be done,” Vilsack says, “to protect it and to enhance it.” Neither the House nor the Senate brought a new Farm Bill up for a vote this year. If congress fails to reauthorize the 2018 Farm Bill this month, federal farm policies revert to laws passed eight decades ago. Vilsack says that would create chaos in the markets.  “I’m sure that something is going to get done, the question is whether it will get done in a way that provides the best benefit and the most opportunity for farmers and ranchers and producers who work so hard for the rest of us,” Vilsack says.

Lawmakers from states hit by Hurricane Helene in late September are seeking federal disaster aid for farmers who lost crops, livestock and farm buildings.

ATLANTIC, IA (December 12, 2024) – Produce in the Park’s Christmas Market is being held at the Nishna Valley Family YMCA (1100 Maple St. Atlantic, IA 50022) on Saturday, December 21 from noon to 3:00 PM. There is no cost to enter Christmas Market. During the market, kids can enjoy free bounce houses inside the YMCA, and Zipp’s Pizzaria will be selling pizza in the YMCA’s parking lot.

This holiday farmers market is held just days before Christmas so shoppers can celebrate with local foods, decorations, and gifts. Christmas Market will offer lots of local vegetables including fresh greens, potatoes, squashes, sweet potatoes, carrots, and spinach, as well as honey, beef, pork, lamb, chicken, and farm-fresh eggs. The holiday market will also offer Christmas cookies, gourmet cupcakes, kringle, and other baked goods and desserts.

In addition to local food, Christmas Market offers shoppers an opportunity to purchase local and handmade holiday decor and gifts. Shoppers can expect to find candles, soaps, crocheted toys, earrings, artwork, lavender products, wood crafts, seasonal hand towels, and more.

Vendors at Christmas Market 2024 will include:
● Food Truck: Zipp’s Pizzaria
● Bridgewater Farm – Lots of produce including greens, sweet potatoes, squash, carrots,
kale, mixed greens, and cilantro, farm-fresh eggs, beef, pork, pasta sauce, salsa.
● The Eye of Nebula – Baked goods including cookies and muffins, canned jellies, crochet
toys, candles, soaps, and skincare products
● Wings of Love Sweetly Crafted – Cinnamon rolls and dessert breads, reusable paper
towels, wipes, and burp cloths, and other various crafts
● Frosting Inc. – Gourmet cupcakes, peanut butter balls, and other baked goods
● KookieNow with Mrs. Phippen – Christmas Cookies in Triple Chocolate Mocha
Peppermint and White Chocolate Peppermint
● Paige’s Pieces – Earrings, signs, car hangers, keychains
● Brun Ko Farm – Chicken, lamb, eggs, butternut squash, sweet potatoes, spinach, spring
mix, garlic, honey, Gift Baskets
● Juj’n Juj’n and Mike Souder Original Art – Leather work, artwork
● Ter-Bear Honey – Honey
● The Kringleman Pastries – Danish kringle, Danish letters, eclairs, krispies, cream
horns, and other pastries

● J.W. Lavender Farms at Quakerdale Farms – Lavender plants, bags, and bundles, as
well as pillow sprays, candles, soaps, and more
● Imagine Garden Gift – Holiday decor and gifts
● Dragonfly Creations – Candles, soaps, crafts, and artwork
● RaMakes Home Decor – Seasonal decor, wood products, towels
● She Shed Designs – rustic home decor, purses, signs, dishcloths, repurposed antiques
● A Witch Crafts – artwork and crafts
● Resin for Reason – Resin art, keychains, magnets, jewelry, trays, jars, and more
● Jackalope Custom Design – Car coasters cups pens ornaments
● 6 Sisters Creations – Christmas candy, Christmas crafts, and chalk painting art

As with all Produce in the Park farmers markets, local organizations will be at the farmers market sharing information. Cass County Tourism will have a booth with a “Winter Recreation” theme, and Healthy Cass County will be sharing resources from various community organizations.

All Produce in the Park farmers markets accept SNAP EBT, otherwise known as food stamps, for all qualifying food items.

Christmas Market 2024 is sponsored by Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, Cass County Tourism, Cass Health, City of Atlantic, First Whitney Bank & Trust and Nishna Valley Family YMCA.

Produce in the Park continues to accept vendor applications for Christmas Market, and additional holiday markets planned for winter 2024-2025. Vendor applications can be found online at www.ProduceInTheParkAtlanticIowa.com; printed copies of the application are available at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce (102 Chestnut St., Atlantic, IA 50022).

Produce in the Park seeks vendors selling handmade or homegrown products, including local foods, as well as beauty products, candles, crafts, art, and decorations. For the latest information on Christmas Market, and all Produce in the Park markets, follow Produce in the Park on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ProduceInThePark) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/produceintheparkatlanticia/.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa D-N-R reports the number of deer taken in the early archery and other seasons was down about five percent leading into the first gun season. The D-N-R’s Pete Hildreth says early gun totals are looking good. “During the first four days of the 2024 gun one seasons. So that’d be December 7th through the 10th, we had approximately 24-thousand-600 deer harvested and reported statewide,” Hildreth says. He says that’s a slight increase.

“That is a four percent increase of the season prior, and about two and a half percent higher than the five year average,” he says. Hildreth is the Conservation and Recreation Division administrator, and spoke during the Natural Resources Commission meeting. He says hunters in eastern Iowa have seen the best success.

“Eastern Iowa is showing strong harvest rates relative to past years, whereas much of western Iowa is lagging considerably,” he says. Hildreth says the lower deer totals in western Iowa are due to the impact of Epizootic Hemmorrhagic Disease or E-H-D on deer. Hildreth says they confirmed another disease in three new counties during the first shotgun deer season. Davis, Wapello and Shelby counties all had deer samples that tested positive for chronic wasting disease for the first time.

There are now 26 of the 99 counties with confirmed C-W-D cases, and 14 of those counties have only one confirmed case. “Unfortunately, nine of those counties with one detection have come online just since 2023, meaning that C-W-D is moving across our landscape, but not necessarily taking root,” Hildreth says.

The second gun deer season starts on Saturday.

(Radio Iowa) – Many Iowans already have big plans for New Year’s Eve, so the Iowa Department of Natural Resources is suggesting anyone who loves the outdoors to take part in an event on New Year’s Day. Sherry Arntzen, chief of the D-N-R’s Parks, Forests and Preserves Bureau, says what are known as First Day Hikes are being held on January 1st at dozens of Iowa’s state parks. “It’s just a fantastic way for people to get out and start the year,” Arntzen says. “Everybody makes New Year’s resolutions, and if one of them is to get healthy, why not go out and enjoy getting healthy in our state parks?” The First Day Hikes tradition started in Iowa in 2012 as a way of launching the new year with a new outlook on the outdoors and getting healthy.

Arntzen says participants are surrounded by the quiet beauty of nature in winter, and they experience spectacular views, beautiful settings and the cultural treasures offered by Iowa’s state parks.  “A lot of our parks, people don’t realize, are open year-round,” Arntzen says, “weather, obviously dependent for road conditions, but it’s a great way to get out and enjoy the outdoors in the off-season when people don’t typically think of going outside.” First Day Hikes are being offered in 45 of Iowa’s state parks on the first day of 2025, and there are essentially two different types of hikes. “This year, we have 19 parks that are offering hosted guided hikes. They have a meeting area, and you actually tour along with either a park person or a friends group member,” Arntzen says. “A number of them have refreshments available, hot cocoa or snacks, and it starts at a designated time.”

The other 26 hikes are self-guided and while most of them are just one or two miles, some are longer, depending on the location. Find full details here: www.iowadnr.gov/firstdayhikes

(Iowa DNR News) – Iowans can buy 2025 resident hunting, fishing and other licenses on Dec. 15.  Licenses purchased for 2024 expire on Jan. 10th. The menu of license options includes the popular Outdoor Combo annual resident hunting/fishing/habitat combo license for $55; the Angler’s Special three-year fishing license for $62; and the Hunter’s Special three-year hunting license with habitat included for $101.

Also available is the Bonus Line option for $14 letting resident and nonresident anglers to fish with one more line in addition to the two lines allowed with the regular fishing license. Upgrade your paper license to a durable hard card with custom art from Iowa artists for only $6.

Download the GoOutdoorsIowa mobile app for iPhone and Android devices to buy and access your license information, no matter where you are. Sync your hunting and fishing licenses on the app to show in the field. You may download multiple customer licenses to offer one secure digital license document location for families, groups, and more.

Licenses are available at 600 locations across the state, and on the DNR website at www.iowadnr.gov/GoOutdoorsIowa.

The Iowa DNR says “Hunting and fishing are often enjoyed with family and friends. A fishing or hunting license makes a great stocking stuffer. “